Excavating machine with clamshell bucket

ABSTRACT

The application discloses a backhoe dipper stick and clamshell bucket combination. A bucket support is pivoted to the dipper stick and a cylinder is connected to the dipper stick to swing the bucket about a laterally extending axis. The bucket support has downwardly extending lugs which pivotally receive a king pin. The king pin is also received in upwardly extending lugs connected to a tilt support and fixed to them. The king pin has crank arms fixed to an intermediate part of it and the crank arms are connected to the piston rod of a tilting cylinder which is supported on the bucket support. The tilting cylinder will tilt the bucket about the king pin. The tilt support has a pivot member connected to it and the pivot member is connected to a bucket bracket. The bucket bracket pivotally supports links that are fixed to each of the two buckets of the clamshell. The bucket cylinder is connected to each side of the bucket bracket and the bucket cylinders each have a piston rod connected to one of the buckets so that the buckets can be swung toward each other and away from each other providing a full clamshell bucket action. The buckets can be rotated relative to the bucket bracket.

United States Patent 1 [111 3,920,137

McCain NOV. 18, 1975 EXCAVATING MACHINE WITH clamshell bucket combination. A bucket support is CLAMSHELL BUCKET Willard E. McCain, 6431 W. Heidler Road, Fairview, Pa. 16415 Filed: Apr. 8, 1974 Appl. No.: 458,682

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1955 Britton 214/147 G 6/1958 Bevan 214/147 G l/l966 Powell 214/145 X Primary ExaminerFriaglia Assistant Examiner R. Schrecengost ABSTRACT The application discloses a backhoe dipper stick and pivoted to the dipper stick and a cylinder is connected to the dipper stick to swing the bucket about a laterally extending axis. The bucket support has downwardly extending lugs which pivotally receive a king pin. The king pin is also received in upwardly extending lugs connected to a tilt support and fixed to them. The king pin has crank arms fixed to an intermediate part of it and the crank arms are connected to the piston rod of a tilting cylinder which is supported on the bucket support. The tilting cylinder will tilt the bucket about the king pin. The tilt support has a pivot member connected to it and the pivot member is con-- nected to a bucket bracket. The bucket bracket pivotally supports links that are fixed to each of the two buckets of the clamshell. The bucket cylinder is connected to each side of the bucket bracket and the bucket cylinders each have a piston rod connected to one of the buckets so that the buckets can be swung toward each other and away from each other providing a full clamshell bucket action. The buckets can be rotated relative to the bucket bracket.

16 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov. 18,1975 Sheet10f3 3,920,137

US Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 3,920,137

US. Patent Nov. 18, 1975 Sheet30f3 3,9 20,137

EXCAVATING MACHINE WITH CLAMSI-IELL BUCKET REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART This disclosure constitutes an improvement over'U.S. Pat. No. 3,252,606. I

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide an improved dipper stick and clamshell bucket.

Another object of the invention is to provide the dipper stick and clamshell bucket and means to swing the bucket pivotally about two separate axes perpendicular to each other and to swing each of the buckets relative to the other, and another cylinder to rotate the buckets.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved support for a clamshell bucket in combination with a dipper stick.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minordetails of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of the combination according to the invention, showing the buckets in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the combination shown in FIG. 1, showing the bucket parts swung laterally in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the buckets in open position.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the machine disclosed is made up generally of a dipper stick 110, buckets 132 and 133, which may be swung relative to each other and be tilted relative to the dipper stick 110. The dipper stick 110 may be supported on a backhoe dipper stick or the like by suitable supporting arrangement familiar to those skilled in the art.

The dipper stick 110 and the first bucket 132 may be used like the bucket and the dipper stick of US. Pat.

No. 3,23l,1l6. In addition thereto the second bucket ceive the king pin 125. The lugs 114 and 115 each have two laterally spaced axially extending holes that receive the members 150'. Members 150 are fixed to the cylinders 126 by suitable attaching means. The members 150' allow the cylinders 126 to swing. (See FIG. 2).

Lugs 114 and 115 are in the form of plates that are fixed to the spaced plates 112 of the bucket support and extend downwardly.

The first bucket 132 has a relatively heavy top lug 152 to which the two laterally spaced flanges are fixed. Brackets 123 and 124 are generally triangular in shape. The lower edges of the brackets 123 and 124 are received between the spaced flanges 165 and 166 of tilt support and pins 144 and extend through holes in the flangesl65 and 166 of tilt support 175 and through the holes in the lower ends of the brackets 123 and 124. The upper ends of the brackets 123 and 124 each have a hole which receives king pin 125 and brackets 123 and 124 are fixed to kingpin 125. The second bucket 133 has a top plate 157 and spaced flanges 141 fixed to top plate 157. Pin 143 extends through flanges 141 on second bucket 133 and pin 142 extends through flanges 140 on first bucket 132. The cylinders 134 each have lugs 159 fixed to the end of the cylinder opposite piston rod 146. These lugs 159 receive the pins 151. Spaced lugs 140 and 141 arewelded to the front part of the plate 157. Each pair of lugs 140 and 141 receives the piston rods 146 between them. Pins 142 extend through the lugs 140 and through the piston rods 146. The second bucket 133 can be swung to the position shown in FIG. 3 by means of the cylinder 134 and swung backward to the position shown in FIG. 2. The entire bucket assembly including buckets 132 and 133 and bucket brackets 123 and 124 and tilt support 113 can be swung laterally by means of cylinders 126 and piston rods 138 which are connected to lugs 128.

The lower end of the dipper stick 110 is pivoted by pin 142 to the side plates 112. Links 1 18 are pivoted to dipper stick 110 by pin 121 and to the common point of the piston rod 141 and the links 119 by means of pin 120. Links 119 are pivoted to the side plates 112 by means of pivot pin 122.

It will be seen'that the crank arms 128 are fixed to the king pin 125 and king pin 125 is fixed to the brackets 123 and 124. Thus by means of the cylinders 126, the buckets 132 and 133 can be swung laterally from the central position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 to either of the dashed line positions shown in FIG. 2. By means of the cylinder 117, the two buckets 132 and 133 can be swung longitudinally and by means of the cylinders 134, the bucket 133 can be swung from open position shown in FIG. 3 to the closed position shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the machine can be used as a regular backhoe or as a clamshell bucket.

The buckets 132 and 133 each have flat sides that are generallytriangular in shape and have outer edges and 161 which extend between jaws 163 and 164.

The bucket bracket 116 is generally in the shape of the frustum of a pyramid, square in cross section, and made up of side plates 162 and end plates 163 and the top plate. The side plates 162 have holes and lugs on the lower ends that receive the pins 150 that pass through the lugs 152 on the buckets 132 and 133.

Tilt support 165 has side plates 165 and 166 and bottom plate 167. Bucket pivot pin 168 extends through plate 167 and through top plate 171' of bucket bracket 116and through top collar 169 and bottom collar 170. The collars 169 and 170 are held to pin 168 by pins 171 and 172 respectively. The buckets can be swung about pin 168 by-motor 175 which is supported on plate 167 by bracket 173.

The bu'cket disclosed herein can be controlled in all of its functions from the cab of the vehicle on which it is mounted. The bucket has wrist action that is rotatable about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle as well as about the ordinary lateral action. It is made so that one-half of the bucket can be removed and the other half can be used for ordinary backhoe operation. The half that has been removed can be rein stalled when it is desired to use the clam type operation.

Bucket bracket 116 is pivoted to tilt support 175 by pm 168 which extends through plate 167 and through plate 130 on the bucket bracket. Pin 168 has collar 170 on its lower end and collar 169 on its upper end. Collars 169 and 170 are held in place by pins 171 and 172. Motor 175 is fixed to plate 167 by bracket 173. The bucket can be rotated by motor 175.

The teeth on the buckets are bolted on and can be removed for ditch cleaning, clean up, and otherjob applications where teeth are not required. Grapple tongs could be substituted for the bucket parts when this is desired.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in MS preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. In combination, a dipper stick, a first bucket and a second bucket.

a bucket support means having laterally spaced upwardly extending side members,

the end of said dipper stick being disposed between said side members and pivotably connected thereto,

means supporting said buckets about a first axis comprising a transverse pin extending through said side members and through said dipper stick and swingably connecting said bucket support means to said dipper stick,

tilting means connected to said bucket support means and to said dipper stick for tilting said bucket support means about said transverse pin,

a tilt support,

upwardly extending brackets connected to said tilt support,

downwardly extending brackets on said bucket support means,

and a king pin extending through said downwardly extending brackets and through said upwardly extending brackets,

a bucket bracket pivotally connected to said tilt support,

a first link fixed to said first bucket,

a second link fixed to said second bucket,

first pivot means connecting said first link to said bucket bracket,

second pivot means pivotally connecting said second link to said bucket bracket, and means for swinging said first bucket relative to said bucket bracket.

and means for swinging said second bucket relative to said bucket bracket whereby said buckets can be swung toward and away from each other.

.2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a pivot means is provided, pivotally connecting said bucket support means to said tilt support,

and means to rotate said bucket bracket relative to said tilt support.

3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said bucket support means has side plates, a top plate and a pivot means connecting said top plate to the bottom plate of said tilt support,

and said pivot means extends through said top plate of said bucket bracket and through said bottom plate of said tilt support.

4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said tilt support has side plates and end plates and is generally rectangular in cross section,

a first bucket cylinder swingably connected to one said side plate,

and a second bucket cylinder swingably connected to the other said side plate of said bucket bracket.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein motor means is connected between said bucket bracket and said tilt support for rotating said bucket bracket and said tilt support relative to each other.

6. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means for swinging a bucket about said laterally extending axis comprises a first link and a second link, each having a first end and a second end,

and a third hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod,

pivot means connecting said first end of said first link, said first end of said second link, and the distal end of said piston rod together,

said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to said dipper stick,

said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said bucket support.

7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein two said first hydraulic cylinders are supported on said bucket support and each a first hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, two cranks fixed to said king pin, each said piston rod of said first hydraulic cylinder being fixed to a said crank.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said first bucket has a relatively flat top plate thereon,

said spaced axially extending flanges are fixed to said top plate,

said spaced lugs comprise said upwardly extending axially spaced means.

9. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said upwardly extending axially spaced means attached to said first bucket comprise,

second flanges fixed to said bucket,

and pin means extending through said flange means connecting said second bucket to said first bucket.

10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said king pin has spaced crank members fixed to the intermediate part thereof,

and said piston rod of said second cylinder is received between said crank means whereby said buckets are swung relative to each other to operate as a clamshell bucket.

11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein pivot means is provided on said bucket support generally parallel to said king pin pivotally supporting said first cylinders.

12. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein two said first links are provided disposed one on each side of said dipper stick,

and two said second links are provided disposed one on each side of said first links and said bucket support.

13. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said bucket support has spaced side plates fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom,

said dipper stick is connected to said bucket support by means connected to said upwardly extending side plates. 7

14. In combination, a dipper stick and a clamshell bucket,

bucket support means swingably connected to said dipper stick to swing about a laterally extending axis,

means to swing said bucket support about said laterally extending axis,

said clamshell bucket comprising a first bucket part and a second bucket part,

means swingably connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support to swing about an axially extending axis,

and means to swing said first bucket part about said laterally extending axis,

6 said first bucket part having laterally spaced flanges supported thereon, laterally spaced flanges on said second bucket part, and means pivotally connecting said second bucket part to said first bucket part, laterally spaced cylinders connected to said first bucket part and to said second bucket part for swinging said second bucket part relative to said first bucket part. 15. The combination recited in claim 14 wherein said first bucket part has a flat top,

said means connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support comprises spaced flanges pivotally connected to said bucket support. 16. The combination recited in claim 15 wherein said second bucket part is removable from said first bucket part whereby said first bucket part is useable as an earth working device. 

1. In combination, a dipper stick, a first bucket and a second bucket, a bucket support means having laterally spaced upwardly extending side members, the end of said dipper stick being disposed between said side members and pivotably connected thereto, means supporting said buckets about a first axis comprising a transverse pin extending through said side members and through said dipper stick and swingably connecting said bucket support means to said dipper stick, tilting means connected to said bucket support means and to said dipper stick for tilting said bucket support means about said transverse pin, a tilt support, upwardly extending brackets connected to said tilt support, downwardly extending brackets on said bucket support means, and a king pin extending through said downwardly extending brackets and through said upwardly extending brackets, a bucket bracket pivotally connected to said tilt support, a first link fixed to said first bucket, a second link fixed to said second bucket, first pivot means connecting said first link to said bucket bracket, second pivot means pivotally connecting said second link to said bucket bracket, and means for swinging said first bucket relative to said bucket bracket, and means for swinging said second bucket relative to said bucket bracket whereby said buckets can be swung toward and away from each other.
 2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein a pivot means is provided, pivotally connceting said bucket support means to said tilt support, and means to rotate said bucket bracket relative to said tilt support.
 3. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said bucket support means has side plates, a top plate and a pivot means connecting said top plate to the bottom plate of said tilt support, and said pivot means extends through said top plate of said bucket bracket and through said bottom plate of said tilt support.
 4. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said tilt support has side plates and end plates and is generally rectangular in cross section, a first bucket cylinder swingably connected to one said side plate, and a second bucket cylinder swingably connected to the other said side plate of said bucket bracket.
 5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein motor means is connected between said bucket bracket and said tilt support for rotating said bucket bracket and said tilt support relative to eacH other.
 6. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said means for swinging a bucket about said laterally extending axis comprises a first link and a second link, each having a first end and a second end, and a third hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, pivot means connecting said first end of said first link, said first end of said second link, and the distal end of said piston rod together, said second end of said first link being pivotally connected to said dipper stick, said second end of said second link being pivotally connected to said bucket support.
 7. The combination recited in claim 6 wherein two said first hydraulic cylinders are supported on said bucket support and each a first hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod, two cranks fixed to said king pin, each said piston rod of said first hydraulic cylinder being fixed to a said crank.
 8. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said first bucket has a relatively flat top plate thereon, said spaced axially extending flanges are fixed to said top plate, said spaced lugs comprise said upwardly extending axially spaced means.
 9. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said upwardly extending axially spaced means attached to said first bucket comprise, second flanges fixed to said bucket, and pin means extending through said flange means connecting said second bucket to said first bucket.
 10. The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said king pin has spaced crank members fixed to the intermediate part thereof, and said piston rod of said second cylinder is received between said crank means whereby said buckets are swung relative to each other to operate as a clamshell bucket.
 11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein pivot means is provided on said bucket support generally parallel to said king pin pivotally supporting said first cylinders.
 12. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein two said first links are provided disposed one on each side of said dipper stick, and two said second links are provided disposed one on each side of said first links and said bucket support.
 13. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said bucket support has spaced side plates fixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, said dipper stick is connected to said bucket support by means connected to said upwardly extending side plates.
 14. In combination, a dipper stick and a clamshell bucket, bucket support means swingably connected to said dipper stick to swing about a laterally extending axis, means to swing said bucket support about said laterally extending axis, said clamshell bucket comprising a first bucket part and a second bucket part, means swingably connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support to swing about an axially extending axis, and means to swing said first bucket part about said laterally extending axis, said first bucket part having laterally spaced flanges supported thereon, laterally spaced flanges on said second bucket part, and means pivotally connecting said second bucket part to said first bucket part, laterally spaced cylinders connected to said first bucket part and to said second bucket part for swinging said second bucket part relative to said first bucket part.
 15. The combination recited in claim 14 wherein said first bucket part has a flat top, said means connecting said first bucket part to said bucket support comprises spaced flanges pivotally connected to said bucket support.
 16. The combination recited in claim 15 wherein said second bucket part is removable from said first bucket part whereby said first bucket part is useable as an earth working device. 